Biosafety and Environmental Microbiology Committee 

Mission

 

To provide a forum for disseminating and exchanging ideas and information about hazardous microbiological agents and their byproducts to health professionals and to the community.

 

Goals and Objectives

 

Assemble, evaluate, and disseminate to occupational and environmental health professionals information on biohazardous agents in industry and the built environment to facilitate the recognition, evaluation, and control of their risks. A biohazardous agent is one of biological origin that has the capacity to produce deleterious effects upon humans, and includes organisms, toxins, and allergens.

Objective #1: Discuss and act upon biosafety and environmentally linked microbiological issues.

Strategies:

  • Designate specific members to track and report on identified issues.
  • Respond to AIHA Board requests to address specific issues.
  • Meet at the AIHce and at other times as appropriate.
  • Solicit papers; organize sessions; and provide session arrangers, chairs, and monitors for the AIHce.
  • Communicate plans and activities to other AIHA committees that may be affected or concerned. Provide liaison support and technical assistance to other professional committees.

Objective #2: Provide education and training on Biosafety and Environmental Microbiology issues.

Strategies:

  • Develop new PDCs and keep existing PDCs up to date.
  • Prepare timely, relevant information for publication.

Goal: Actively participate in identifying and responding to biosafety and environmental microbiology issues.

Objective #3:

  • Identify and report on hazardous microbiological agents and the occupations and environments in which they occur.
  • Identify and provide guidance in evaluation and control techniques used for biological agents.
  • Prepare publications concerning approaches for risk assessment, evaluation and control of biological agents.
  • Identify, evaluate, and comment on proposed legislation, regulations, and standards affecting biological agents.

Strategies:

  • Participate in the development of standards by organizations such as OSHA and NIOSH.
  • Develop and recommend positions to the AIHA Board.